Break through the GigE limit

Teledyne DALSA Genie Nano

The Teledyne DALSA Genie Nano comprises an impressing set of features in a robust housing. The latest CMOS sensors guarantee excellent image quality while the wide temperature range increases system reliability and endurance. Additionally, TurboDrive provides data transfer speeds previously not achievable with GigE Vision.

Available with either CameraLink, standard GigE Vision or GigE Vision over NBASE-T (5 Gb/s), the Genie Nano is designed to use a range of leading CMOS image sensors, from Sony, ON Semiconductor and E2V, with resolutions from VGA to 25 megapixels.

The global shutter device delivers high speed and low noise image data. The Genie Nano is always designed with the smallest possible casing for the sensor size and data interface.

Reasons to choose the Teledyne DALSA Genie Nano

TurboDrive offers a mode of operation used to push past the Gigabit Ethernet speed ceiling of typically 115 MB/s. It allows a GigE Vision camera to send pixel information at a rate in excess of 150 % of GigE bandwidth and speeding up line and frame rates beyond the nominal link capacity. While the lossless configuration excess of 150 %, a lossy configuration can excess more than 200 % of GigE bandwidth. Still all the benefits of GigE networks - like mass market components and protocols and Ethernet technology for fast and inexpensive communication for distances of up to 100 m - can be used. Engineers can therefore use proven technology, keeping design and support easy, while there's a lot of potential to increase the speed of the application.

Simplified integration into tight spaces

The extremely small and light-weight housing allow the design of very compact OEM and multi camera solutions. The integration into existing systems with tight spaces for the machine vision components is simplified. Thanks to the slim body length of only 21 mm, the use of more expensive angle head versions can be avoided. The slim design also leads to a general competitive advantage, when a single camera model fits all possible space requirements.

Easy integration into existing systems

The Teledyne DALSA Genie Nano features 2 inputs and 2 opto-coupled outputs, both programmable, with versatile configuration options that adapt to your needs. Implementation and integration effort can be reduced, typically reducing cost. Fewer components can also result in cost savings for repairs and maintenance.

Reliable data loss protection

With the trigger-to-image reliability framework, the image capture process is controlled and monitored end-to-end from the trigger to the transfer to the host memory. This way data loss is clearly tracked and the reliability of the overall inspection process is improved. This helps in increasing the quality of your inspection by sorting out parts that have not been inspected due to shortfalls in the image capture process.

Extended system reliability and endurance

The extended operating temperature range makes the Teledyne DALSA Genie Nano an ideal match for harsh environments. Even with temperature differences there is no need for external cooling or protective housings. As no additional components are needed to keep the camera at a suitable temperature, very compact test cells can be built. The high temperature range and high MTBF helps to extend camera life and increase system reliability. This leads to fewer or no production outages and extends the endurance of a machine.

Flexible configuration for various usage scenarios

Different applications have different requirements for image acquisition and image processing. Some of these sometimes demanding requirements are high dynamic range, 10 bit pixel depth, use of the camera sensor’s highest internal read-out speed, or extending the capacity of the data throughput beyond the limits of GigE Vision by means of (lossless or lossy) image compression.

High-end features of the Genie Nano

Various features of the Teledyne DALSA Genie Nano help to reduce the need for further components and thus to keep the system complexity and cost low:

With burst mode, the frame rate can be increased beyond the GigE Vision bandwidth limitation. By combining the high data acquisition rate in the large onboard image buffer and comprehen­sive cycling modes and readout control, applications with fast burst acquisition can be realised. In this mode, images can be acquired at maximum frame rate of the sensor with the data buffered on the main storage of the camera. The buffered data is only transferred during camera idle times e.g. when a conveyor belt moves forward.

Multi-ROI allows the definition of up to 16 ROIs and limit the read-out of image data to the important parts of the object. This reduces the amount of data to transfer and preprocess, which saves CPU time.

The cycling mode implements a method to use various different user-controlled configurations. This allows working with different light sources, lighting angles, exposure times, gains etc. for every line. That way, a single pass with a single camera delivers a high amount of information which is comparable to that of multiple cameras or combinations of camera and frame grabber. With this feature, costly and complex hardware solutions can be avoided, since e.g. multiple illumination variants of the same object increase failure detection and production security. It can also reduce inspection time in cases where various illumination set-ups are mandatory to inspect one object.

GigE Vision model features

Metadata support

EEE1588 (Precision TimeProtocol) support

TurboDrive V1.0 with lossless configuration can increase data rate in excess of 150% of GigE bandwidth and TurboDrive V2.0 with lossy configuration can exceed GigE bandwidth by more than 200 %. Both configuration can speed up line and frame rates beyond the nominal link capacity

Multicasting, distribution of image data to multiple PCs

Trigger-to-image reliability (T2IR) framework improves the reliability of the inspection system and protects the system from data loss

Markets and Applications

Industrial automation tasks where small and lightweight cameras requiered

100% quality control in electronics manufacturing

Completeness checking in pick and package applications

Semiconductor PCB-AOI (automated optical inspection) systems

Traffic observation systems in law enforcement

Sorting decisions in food quality inspection applications

In this series we'll be looking at the unique features that some cameras have, explaining how they work (and how they can help you).

In the first part, we're looking at:

TurboDrive - a breakthrough that gives you more out of the GigE infrastructure.

Trigger-to-Image Reliability - gives you confidence in the reliability of your vision system

Teledyne DALSA is one of the largest companies serving the machine vision industry and is unique in that it is vertically integrated; from sensor design and manufacture, through image capture and processing, to software for imaging optimisations and analysis.